I'll Take My Faith to Go

Lilia Grundy orders faith 'to-go' and encourages families to join her on the road.  

Do you ever have flashbacks to a funny moment and catch yourself laughing out loud to yourself? There’s one in particular that makes me giggle every time it comes back to me.

It was a family reunion of sorts. My cousins, aunts, and uncles were all together at my grandparents’ home, and we were having a blast. We started a friendly competitive basketball game at the local park, and by the time we got back, everyone was famished. “Let’s order pizza!” one of my uncles yelled out.

So my cousin grabbed the phone and started calling a pizzeria from the phone book — for you millennials, yes, you have to imagine that — and placed order after order. Finally, he confirmed the total price, and his shocked reaction came out in one unforgettable moment: “Uh ... cancel that order!” His expressions were so funny. Maybe you had to be there, but it also reminds me how quick we can be to place orders and purchase something exciting — without really stopping to think.

It makes me wonder: What if our faith could be ordered to go? Not as an afterthought, but as something we bring with us every day — even when we’re traveling.

On the Road Again

This past summer was a great opportunity to test my faithfulness, because road trips and travel can keep a family far from their usual routines. But it has become a fun practice to begin every trip by putting God at the top of the list.

For example, an unexpected trip to the Junior Olympic National Championships popped onto the calendar when our daughter qualified for the 3k race. Mommy Manager (me) immediately went into travel-arrangement mode because of the quick turnaround. But the first thing I did was look up nearby Catholic churches at our destination. That way, our family could attend either a Vigil or Sunday Mass while we were away.

Pope John Paul II reminds us in his 1988 apostolic letter Dies Domini that when we are away from home on Sundays, we should “take care to attend Mass wherever they may be, enriching the local community with their personal witness.” 

Weeklong trips have become just as meaningful. They’re an opportunity to visit a new parish, stop by for Adoration, and — when it fits — make time for Confession. To combat the kids’ summer boredom, I looked for new churches nearby so we could get out and explore. Many churches are works of art: better than visiting a museum! 

Technology also makes it easier than ever to find churches, priests, and Catholic events with a quick tap on a mobile phone or computer click. So why aren’t more Catholics taking their faith on the road? I know some of my past excuses were time and convenience. But when we center our lives — and our family’s lives — around Jesus, everything else tends to fall into place.

Faith on the Menu

I am grateful that my husband and I work as a team, modeling the importance of our faith for our children. Education, sports, and other extracurricular activities are important and can be fruitful. But by demonstrating that attending Mass comes first, even while traveling, we’re planting seeds for the next generation.

Church touring—visiting different churches while traveling—has become a fun way to evangelize. My family and I are able to share ourselves with people in new parishes, and our conversations naturally include “going to church,” even with people who may not be familiar with the faith.

And thus, I invite all my fellow Catholic Moms and families to take their faith “to go.” Do it with the same quickness we’re able to place an order — only this time, let’s order what matters most: prayer, Mass, and intentional moments with Jesus. Whether it’s a long trip, a staycation, or even a quick drive around the neighborhood, pray on the road. Recite the rosary in your car. Take your Bible to a picnic. Locate the nearest parish and attend Mass. And yes — maybe order some pizza while you go, but let the first “order” be your faith.

“Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:16)

Pause and reflect:

Do you take your faith “to-go” when you travel? Drop one fun way you’ll share or participate in your Catholic faith on your next trip.

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Copyright 2026 Lilia Grundy
Images: Canva